The image was everywhere. You probably remember the grainy, unsettling cover of the National Enquirer back in February 2012. It showed Whitney Houston in her coffin, a final, private moment that was never supposed to leave the walls of the Whigham Funeral Home. It sparked a firestorm. People were livid. How could someone betray "The Voice" like that?
Honestly, the controversy wasn't just about the photo itself. It was about the violation. It was about the fact that even in her final rest, Whitney couldn't find the peace the world had denied her for years.
What really happened at the Whigham Funeral Home?
Let’s get the timeline straight because it's kinda messy. Whitney passed away on February 11, 2012, at the Beverly Hilton. After the autopsy, her body was flown back to her home state of New Jersey. The Whigham Funeral Home in Newark handled the arrangements. This wasn't just a business transaction; the Whigham family had a long-standing relationship with the Houstons.
On February 17, the day before the massive "homegoing" service at New Hope Baptist Church, the family held a private viewing. This was intimate. We're talking family, the tightest of inner circles, and very few outsiders.
Somehow, during that private window, someone snapped a picture.
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The National Enquirer published it under the headline "Whitney: The Last Photo!" It showed her lying in a gold-lined casket. She was wearing a dark purple dress—reportedly her favorite—and some pretty high-end jewelry. The casket lid was embroidered with her nickname, "Nippy," flanked by two treble clefs.
The $500,000 jewelry myth
The tabloids went wild with the "facts." They claimed Whitney was buried with $500,000 worth of jewelry, including a diamond brooch and gold slippers.
Here is the thing: most of that was likely sensationalized.
While the photo showed her adorned for the viewing, sources close to the funeral arrangements later clarified that the most valuable pieces were removed before the actual burial. Think about it. Cissy Houston is a smart woman. She knew the risks. Leaving half a million dollars in a grave is basically an invitation for the worst kind of people.
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Who actually took the photo?
This is the question that still haunts the family. For a while, people actually pointed fingers at the funeral home staff. Carolyn Whigham, the owner, was devastated. She ended up holding a press conference to defend her reputation. She even mentioned that she and a few pastors knew exactly who did it, but it wasn't her place to say.
Basically, the suspicion shifted to the "inner circle."
One name that kept popping up was Raffles van Exel. He was a Dutch "consultant" or "celebrity hanger-on" who had somehow embedded himself in Whitney's life during her final years. He was at the hotel the night she died. He was in the car with Pat Houston on the way to the funeral.
An employee at the funeral home reportedly claimed they saw van Exel take the photo. He never explicitly denied it in his public statements, instead focusing on how much he loved Whitney. Whether it was him or another guest, the betrayal cut deep.
The fallout and the "Bodyguard" irony
The irony wasn't lost on anyone. Whitney's most famous movie was The Bodyguard, yet in death, her privacy was completely unguarded.
Because of the jewelry rumors and the photo leak, security at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield had to be tightened significantly. For months, armed guards watched over her grave. They eventually had to enclose the casket in a deep vault to prevent any "psychotic fans" or grave robbers from trying anything.
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Why the Whitney Houston in coffin photo still matters
It matters because it represents the peak of "vulture culture." It wasn't the first time the Enquirer had done this—they did it to Elvis in 1977. But in the digital age, it felt more invasive.
It also highlighted the fractures within the Houston family and their associates. The fact that someone—likely someone she trusted—sold her out for a payday (rumored to be in the six figures) is a bleak ending to a legendary life.
Lessons from the controversy
If there is any "actionable" takeaway from this tragedy, it’s about the reality of privacy for high-profile estates.
- Trust is a commodity: When dealing with high-profile deaths, "inner circles" are often the biggest security risk.
- Tabloid ethics haven't changed: Media outlets will always prioritize a "get" over human decency if the price is right.
- Legacy management: The Houston family eventually took control of the narrative, but the damage from that one photo remains a permanent part of her digital footprint.
Whitney was buried next to her father, John Russell Houston Jr. A year later, her headstone was placed. It reads, simply: "THE VOICE." That’s how she should be remembered—not as a grainy image in a magazine, but as the woman who changed music forever.
Next Steps for Readers:
If you want to honor Whitney's actual legacy, look into the work of the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, which she established to help homeless children and those in need. Moving past the sensationalism and back to her philanthropy is the best way to respect her memory.